About AIRMOB
“Developing Skills and Capabilities for Innovative Air Mobility”
A four-year Erasmus+ initiative empowering Europe’s future workforce in air mobility.
€3.98M
EU Grant
INTRODUCTION
A European alliance for air mobility skills
AIRMOB (Project No. 101194074) is a four-year initiative (March 2025 – February 2029) co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. Coordinated by Deep Blue SRL (Italy), the project unites 23 full partners and 11 associated partners across seven countries (Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, Cyprus, Belgium).
This diverse consortium spans VET providers, universities, research centers, SMEs, public authorities, and industry stakeholders, creating a rich collaboration network. Together, they align education, innovation, and industry needs to ensure Europe’s workforce is equipped for the future of mobility.
Policy Alignment
AIRMOB is strategically aligned with major European initiatives and policies. It directly supports the European Skills Agenda by closing skills gaps and boosting workforce competitiveness, and promotes a culture of upskilling and lifelong learning in the rapidly evolving IAM field. The project also advances the EU’s Drone Strategy 2.0 and contributes to the European Green Deal — aligning with the Pact for Skills in Aerospace & Defence to reinforce Europe’s digital innovation and green sustainability goals.
Market & Impact
Innovative Air Mobility is poised for explosive growth — valued at €28 billion in 2022 and projected to reach over €500 billion by 2030. AIRMOB addresses this opportunity by identifying key skill needs and providing high-quality VET programs tailored to the IAM industry. With an EU grant of €3.98 million, AIRMOB is an investment in both people and technology, ensuring Europe’s air mobility ecosystem thrives in the coming decades.
OBJECTIVES
Six strategic objectives
01
Characterize the IAM Sector in Europe
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of current Innovative Air Mobility technologies, key stakeholders, regulatory frameworks, and the sector’s readiness for large-scale deployment. This establishes a data-driven baseline to inform all other project activities.
02
Identify Future Skills and Capabilities
Anticipate and define the emerging skill needs of the IAM workforce by assessing present VET gaps and forecasting the competencies required for new IAM roles — guiding curriculum development and policy recommendations.
03
Develop and Test Innovative VET Curricula
Design, develop, and pilot new vocational education and training programs focused on IAM. Learner-centered, flexible and modular curricula spanning EQF levels 3–7, integrating technical, digital, and green skills.
04
Foster Collaboration Across Stakeholders
Build a transnational Community of Practice bringing together educators, industry experts, researchers, and policymakers — driving joint innovation, sharing best practices, and strengthening links between VET institutions and the IAM industry.
05
Ensure Sustainability and Governance
Establish long-term frameworks to sustain AIRMOB’s impact beyond the project’s lifetime — governance structures and action plans for each regional CoVE and the pan-European network, plus resources and policy support to scale up successful programs.
06
Promote Visibility and Inclusiveness
Increase awareness of innovative air mobility and ensure inclusive participation. Outreach campaigns will inspire diverse groups — including youth, women, and underserved communities — to explore IAM careers and build public trust in this emerging field.
OUTPUTS
Key deliverables and results
“AIRMOB Drone View” Report
A comprehensive sector analysis of IAM in Europe — mapping technologies, market trends, regulatory landscapes and challenges. Evidence-based insights for educators, industry, and policymakers.
Transformation Roadmap
A strategic guideline for developing the IAM ecosystem in Europe, outlining recommended actions for stakeholders — from training providers to regulators — to foster innovation, collaboration and investment.
Training Catalogue
A collection of 20 new VET programs at EQF levels 3–7, created and tested by AIRMOB — covering technical and transversal skills, designed for flexible implementation across countries and institutions.
IAM-GPT Teaching Assistant
An AI-powered learning support tool leveraging a large language model trained on curated aviation data — answering questions, providing explanations and personalized guidance for instructors and students.
Career Kits
15 occupational profiles and job pathway guides for IAM careers (drone fleet operator, U-space traffic manager, eVTOL maintenance specialist…) — with required skills, educational pathways and career tips.
CoVEs and CoP Action Plans
Sustainability roadmaps for the five regional Centres of Vocational Excellence and the European Community of Practice — defining how they continue, expand and secure support after the project ends.
Awareness Campaigns
Outreach initiatives promoting IAM across communities and youth — school workshops, public demonstrations like “Sky Safaris”, social media drives and competitions inspiring the next generation.
TARGET GROUPS
Who benefits from AIRMOB?
Learners & Trainees
VET students, apprentices, and professionals seeking upskilling or reskilling — benefiting from new courses, hands-on training and career guidance that enhance employability in a future-oriented field.
Educators & Trainers
Teachers, instructors and mentors gain innovative teaching materials, curricula and AI-assisted tools like the IAM-GPT assistant — plus a network of peers and industry experts through the Community of Practice.
Industry & SMEs
From drone manufacturers to aviation-tech startups — collaborating in training design, pilots and open innovation, gaining a pipeline of skilled workers and influence on curricula to meet real-world needs.
Researchers & Policymakers
Data-driven insights and evidence-based recommendations — from the Drone View report to collaborative platforms — supporting education and innovation policy and revealing new trends in IAM’s societal impact.
Citizens & Communities
Through awareness campaigns and public events, citizens experience safe, sustainable and inclusive IAM solutions — while youth and underrepresented groups are encouraged to join IAM educational programs.
WORK PACKAGES
How the work is organised
Ensures effective coordination, financial management, and quality control of all project activities. Led by the coordinator (Deep Blue, Italy), WP1 monitors progress, facilitates partner communication, and guarantees that AIRMOB meets its goals and deliverables on time.
Maps the current state of the IAM sector and develops strategic guidelines — research and analysis on technologies, market needs, and regulatory context (e.g. via the Drone View Report), plus the project’s strategic plan for aligning training with industry evolution. (Lead: ITU, Türkiye & INOVA+, Portugal.)
Creates and pilot-tests the new vocational curricula and training resources for IAM — course content for VET and higher VET (EQF 3–7), the IAM-GPT teaching assistant, and modern pedagogies like virtual labs and simulators. (Lead: UPM, Spain & TUS, Ireland.)
Strengthens collaboration between education and industry — partnerships with IAM businesses, innovation workshops, internships, “open labs” where students tackle real industry challenges, and skills competitions or hackathons in drone technology. (Lead: EuroUSC Italia & Universidade da Beira Interior — UBI, Portugal.)
Develops the network of Centres of Vocational Excellence and the transnational Community of Practice — the framework for the five regional CoVEs to operate and grow, the Euro-AIRMOB CoP platform, and governance models to keep the network active post-project. (Lead: Deep Blue, Italy & SENASA, Spain.)
Manages AIRMOB’s communication strategy — branding, website and social media, newsletters and press releases, and outreach events — ensuring information about progress, results, and opportunities reaches all target audiences, including via multilingual content. (Lead: CSI, Cyprus & JEDA, Belgium.)
Oversees the evaluation of AIRMOB’s processes and results — quality criteria, continuous assessment of outputs, feedback from partners and stakeholders, external evaluations, and outcome measurement to inform improvements. (Lead: INOVA+, Portugal.)
Each work package is interrelated — moving logically from groundwork (analysis and planning) to development (curricula and tools), then to collaboration and outreach, while maintaining high quality and sustainability. Together they form a cohesive plan that drives AIRMOB’s mission forward and creates lasting impact in vocational training and the IAM industry.
AIRMOB
“Developing Skills and Capabilities for Innovative Air Mobility”
A four-year Erasmus+ initiative empowering Europe’s future workforce in air mobility.
Introduction
AIRMOB (Project No. 101194074) is a four-year initiative (March 2025 – February 2029) co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. Coordinated by Deep Blue SRL (Italy), the project unites 23 full partners and 11 associated partners across seven countries (Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, Cyprus, Belgium).
This diverse consortium spans VET providers, universities, research centers, SMEs, public authorities, and industry stakeholders, creating a rich collaboration network. Together, they align education, innovation, and industry needs to ensure Europe’s workforce is equipped for the future of mobility.
Policy Alignment
AIRMOB is strategically aligned with major European initiatives and policies. It directly supports the European Skills Agenda by closing skills gaps and boosting workforce competitiveness, and it promotes a culture of upskilling and lifelong learning in the rapidly evolving IAM field.
The project also advances the EU’s Drone Strategy 2.0 and contributes to the European Green Deal objectives by preparing talent for climate-friendly transport solutions.
By aligning with these strategies – as well as the Pact for Skills in Aerospace & Defence – AIRMOB ensures that its outcomes reinforce Europe’s digital innovation and green sustainability goals.
Market & Impact
As an emerging sector, Innovative Air Mobility is poised for explosive growth – valued at €28 billion in 2022 and projected to reach over €500 billion by 2030.
AIRMOB addresses this opportunity and challenge by identifying key skill needs and providing high-quality VET programs tailored to the IAM industry.
With an EU grant of €3.98 million, AIRMOB is an investment in both people and technology, ensuring that Europe’s air mobility ecosystem thrives in the coming decades.
Objectives
Strategic Objective 1
Characterize the IAM Sector in Europe – Conduct a comprehensive mapping of current Innovative Air Mobility technologies, key stakeholders, regulatory frameworks, and the sector’s readiness for large-scale deployment. This objective establishes a data-driven baseline to inform all other project activities.
Strategic Objective 2
Identify Future Skills and Capabilities – Anticipate and define the emerging skill needs of the IAM workforce by assessing present vocational education and training gaps and forecasting the competencies required for new IAM roles. AIRMOB will use these insights to guide curriculum development and policy recommendations.
Strategic Objective 3
Develop and Test Innovative VET Curricula – Design, develop, and pilot new vocational education and training programs focused on IAM. These curricula will be learner-centered, flexible, and modular, enabling cross-border adoption and adaptation. They will span European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels 3–7, integrating technical, digital, and green skills to meet industry demands.
Strategic Objective 4
Foster Collaboration Across Stakeholders – Build a transnational Community of Practice (CoP) that brings together educators, industry experts, researchers, and policymakers in the air mobility arena. By encouraging knowledge exchange and co-creation, AIRMOB’s CoP will drive joint innovation projects, share best practices, and strengthen links between VET institutions and the IAM industry.
Strategic Objective 5
Ensure Sustainability and Governance – Establish long-term frameworks to sustain AIRMOB’s impact beyond the project’s lifetime. This includes developing governance structures and action plans (both for each regional CoVE and the pan-European network) as well as securing resources or policy support to maintain and scale up successful training programs and collaborations in the future.
Strategic Objective 6
Promote Visibility and Inclusiveness – Increase awareness of innovative air mobility and ensure inclusive participation in the IAM sector. AIRMOB will conduct outreach and awareness campaigns to inspire diverse groups – including youth, women, and underserved communities – to explore IAM careers. By promoting the societal benefits of drones and advanced air mobility (e.g. emergency medical deliveries, eco-friendly transport), the project aims to generate broad public interest and trust in this emerging field.
Outputs
Key Deliverables and Results: AIRMOB will produce a range of tangible outputs and resources to benefit learners, educators, and industry. Its main outputs include:
“AIRMOB Drone View” Report
A comprehensive sector analysis of IAM in Europe, mapping current technologies, market trends, regulatory landscapes, and challenges to scaling up innovative air mobility. This report provides evidence-based insights for educators, industry, and policymakers.
Transformation Roadmap
A strategic guideline for developing the Innovative Air Mobility ecosystem in Europe. This roadmap outlines recommended actions for stakeholders (from training providers to regulators) to foster innovation, collaboration, and investment in the IAM sector over the coming years.
Training Catalogue
A collection of 20 new VET programs (courses and modules) at EQF levels 3–7, created and tested by AIRMOB. These curricula cover both technical and transversal skills needed in the drone and air mobility field, and are designed for flexible implementation across different countries and institutions.
IAM-GPT Teaching Assistant
An AI-powered learning support tool leveraging a large language model (trained on curated aviation data) to assist both instructors and students. The IAM-GPT virtual assistant can help answer questions, provide explanations, and offer personalized guidance in real time, enhancing the learning experience in IAM topics.
Career Kits
A set of 15 occupational profiles and job pathway guides for careers in Innovative Air Mobility. Each profile details a specific IAM role (e.g. drone fleet operator, U-space traffic manager, eVTOL maintenance specialist), outlining the required skills, educational pathways, and career development tips. These kits serve as a valuable resource for career counseling and for learners planning their future in the sector.
CoVEs and CoP Action Plans
Sustainability roadmaps for the five regional Centres of Vocational Excellence and the European Community of Practice established by AIRMOB. These action plans define how each CoVE and the collective CoP will continue their activities, expand membership, and secure funding or policy support after the project ends. They ensure the community’s longevity and evolving growth.
Awareness Campaigns
A series of outreach initiatives to promote IAM across communities and youth audiences. These campaigns may include school workshops, public demonstration events (like “Sky Safaris” showcasing drone applications), social media drives, and competitions. The goal is to raise public awareness about safe and sustainable IAM solutions and to inspire the next generation of pilots, engineers, and innovators.
Target groups
Who Benefits from AIRMOB? The project is designed to serve a broad ecosystem of stakeholders in education, industry, and society. Key target groups include:
Learners & Trainees
Educators & Trainers
Industry & SMEs
Researchers & Policymakers
Citizens & Communities
Work Packages
WP1: Project Management and Monitoring
Ensures effective coordination, financial management, and quality control of all project activities. Led by the coordinator (Deep Blue, Italy), WP1 monitors progress, facilitates partner communication, and guarantees that AIRMOB meets its goals and deliverables on time.
WP2: Sector Analysis and Strategic Planning
Maps the current state of the IAM sector and develops strategic guidelines. This work package conducts research and analysis on technologies, market needs, and regulatory context for innovative air mobility (e.g. via the Drone View Report). It also formulates the project’s strategic plan for aligning training with industry evolution. (Lead: ITU, Turkey & INOVA+, Portugal.)
WP3: Innovative VET Development
Focuses on creating and pilot-testing the new vocational curricula and training resources for IAM. Activities include designing course content (for VET and higher VET, EQF 3–7), developing the IAM-GPT teaching assistant, and integrating modern pedagogies (like virtual labs and simulators). Pilot courses will run to gather feedback. (Lead: UPM, Spain & TUS, Ireland.)
WP4: Industry Collaboration and Open Innovation
Strengthens collaboration between education and industry and fosters innovation. This WP establishes partnerships with IAM businesses and organizes joint initiatives such as innovation workshops, internships, and “open labs” where students tackle real industry challenges. It also helps coordinate skills competitions or hackathons in drone technology. (Lead: European Safety Council – EUSC & Universidade da Beira Interior – UBI, Portugal.)
WP5: CoVEs and CoP Coordination
Develops the network of Centres of Vocational Excellence and the transnational Community of Practice. It provides the framework for the five regional CoVEs to operate and grow (including long-term action plans for each), and sets up the Euro-AIRMOB CoP platform for sustained knowledge exchange among all partners and beyond. This package also looks at governance models to keep the network active post-project. (Lead: Deep Blue, Italy & SENASA, Spain.)
WP6: Communication and Dissemination
Manages AIRMOB’s communication strategy to maximize impact and visibility. It handles the project’s branding, website and social media presence, publication of newsletters and press releases, and organization of outreach events. WP6 ensures that information about AIRMOB’s progress, results, and opportunities reaches all target audiences (including via multilingual content as needed). (Lead: CSI, Cyprus & JEDA, Italy.)
WP7: Quality Assurance and Evaluation
Oversees the evaluation of AIRMOB’s processes and results. This WP defines quality criteria and continuously assesses the project outputs (curricula, tools, events) against those standards. It collects feedback from partners and stakeholders, conducts external evaluations, and measures the outcomes (e.g. number of trainees, stakeholder engagement, satisfaction) to inform improvements. (Lead: INOVA+, Portugal.)
Each work package is interrelated, ensuring that the project moves logically from groundwork (analysis and planning) to development (curricula and tools), then to collaboration and outreach, while maintaining high quality and sustainability. Together, these WPs form a cohesive plan of action that drives AIRMOB’s mission forward and creates a lasting impact in vocational training and the IAM industry.